As we close- out the first iteration of the SaludArte program, we caught up with Sadie Shaw, Community Design Manager at the Arts Foundation for a Q & A
AF: Could you provide insights into the Saludarte Program. What were the goals and what was your role?
SS: SaludArte is a pilot program between the Arts Foundation and the Pima County Health Department, aiming to bridge the gap between public art and public health. The program worked on finding ways for the community to share their pandemic experiences with artists to co-create temporary public artworks in each district. Additionally, it aimed to assist our local health agency in better serving each specific community.
As the Community Design Manager, my responsibility was to recruit 75 participants from across Pima County to join me in a series of community meetings. These meetings aimed to organize the Call to Artists and oversee the work of the five selected artists. In total, I facilitated 23 meetings in Tucson, Green Valley, Marana, and Ajo. During these sessions, participants examined local and national examples of public art, were educated on best practices when serving on a public art panel, and selected an artist whom they felt could translate their stories into a public artwork. We employed human-centered design activities during these meetings to gather information, which we then shared with both the selected artists and the health department to inform their work.
This process was a first of its kind for both the Arts Foundation and the Pima County Health Department. It was also a novel experience for the participants who joined each of the SaludArte District Committees. It was an honor to be part of this program and witness the participants’ growing appreciation for public art throughout the process.
AF: What’s next for the SaludArte program?
SS: Currently, we’re working on a mini-documentary of SaludArte with Artifact Video Productions. Additionally, we are drafting a commentary article for the Journal of Healthcare for the Poor and Underserved about community participatory art as an emerging best practice for public health.
I hope that there may be new iterations of SaludArte in the future and that the program can be replicated in other parts of Arizona and the country. Even before our program concluded, participants and attendees at our events expressed interest in joining the program or staying active in the work. The most requested topics from community members for future iterations have been substance abuse and mental health.
AF: Now that SaludArte has wrapped up, what’s on the horizon for next year in your new role at the Arts Foundation?
SS: With SaludArte coming to an end, I’ve been offered a new position at the Arts Foundation as the Public Art and Community Design Administrator. In this role, my scope of work includes managing the PACD Committee, supporting the donations program and other temporary projects, as well as working on the City Hall artwork on loan program. I’m excited to continue in the same vein as my last position and help strengthen the bond between the Arts Foundation and the people of Southern Arizona.
